Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.
Finding that they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians and bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed “the hardest working band in town” by their peers. The Queens gained a dedicated following through outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic.
A core value of the band is to play for as many audiences as possible to increase the visibility of female musicians in brass bands. Brass Queens tour regularly across the country and internationally. Recent highlights include a New Year’s Eve performance in Telluride, multiple nights at Favela Chic in New Orleans, and a sold out show at Cliff Bell’s in Detroit. They also make appearances on festival stages including the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Northlands Music Festival, MusikFest, Duck Jazz Festival, and multiple appearances at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. Brass Queens has played major events like The Met Gala and David Byrne’s “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things!” Variety Show, and for notable clients including New Balance, Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Bombas, Perrier, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. They have also performed on national television on Good Morning America, and had multiple shows at iconic New York venues like The Capitol Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, and Brooklyn Bowl. They are also the 2023 winners of We Love NYC’s Rider’s Choice Award, after the people of New York voted the Queens as their favorite of the MTA’s Music Under New York’s roster of subway performers.
The band has developed a signature style that sits right at the intersection of the Big Apple and the Big Easy. Their sound is deeply inspired by and pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while injecting the upbeat, multifaceted energy of their New York home into each performance. The result is a nonstop party: a Brass Queens show will have you singing along to classic pop hits, dancing your heart out to reggaeton, and feeling like you’ve been transported to Frenchman Street. In February 2021, Brass Queens released their debut EP Royal Street, which takes listeners on a six-song journey beginning in the heart of New York City with a cover of Cameo’s Candy, down to Royal St. with their take on a New Orleans traditional, Little Liza Jane. In November 2023, the band released their first full-length album titled Black & Gold, which is an ode to the Brass Queen’s incredible early fanbase who supported the band from the virtual performances and socially-distanced street corners during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the crowded clubs and packed venues of today. Less than a year later, Brass Queens released their second full-length album and their first album of all-original music titled Hot Tub Sessions Vol. I.
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